What forestland could not provide M Urban Poor Housewife BULACLAC MARITES Th couplee settled in Payatas region. Visayas constructiona is worker from Hinigaran,Negros Occidental inthe helper in Marikina, until she got married household a fi as worked and 19 vewas yearsshe when later. Manila for Sorsogon Her husband tip of and around 12 hours by land from Manila. Mayette left eat was notenough. the because food Ththen.four of family would children the only when were days ere insuffiwas share for their his fi to but local cient sh, sherfolk the fi havenot Herincome. workdid no hence, and they husband joined during the Christmas only and New Year good periods. For was the rest of business the year, the fi But factory. a recrackers in worked and Occidental Negros Hinigaran, husband’sin herhometown to in staying were back went they so expansion, cemetery the they for used be Payatas will area the that informed were they 2001, In her lotfor free. in stay to them allowed woman benevolent a that Thglad were ey sheets. plastic and tarpaulin, cardboards, sheets, corrugated from makeshifta built couple the house So house. a for rent pay to have not do they Payatas, in Th Payatas.that him in informed live ey to were they married. Her husband’s friends atthem work encouraged yte s 9 er od n a ohr o he cide. She children. comes from three Sorsogon, a to province mother located at a the southernmost and old years 29 is ayette 1 , a dumpgarbage in Quezon City, aft er sold. Withsold. this initial he money earns at the start of the day, he returns to arrive early in the and morning, he picks forthe whatgarbage can be for he dumpwaits the so cannot trucks anything, also do afford to not Currently, her husband is sick and cannot do construction work. But he Mayetteeat. wouldlike to help but noone care will for thecan three children. they that so enough earns only he this, From dumpsite. the usually wood from wood usually cemetery, nearby the in fuelwood for looks Mayette and stove, a own not do They house. the for bulb light single a have They connection. water a has who neighbor their from water potable buy laundry.They and water. Theyget their water from a nearby deep well for washing and month,electricity excludingPhP1,200.00a for room decrepit feet 8 x Aftertwo years, they decided togo back to Payatas. They rented a feet 6 When construction projects are rare, her husband does scavenging does husbandher rare, are constructionprojects When her husband nothave will work have andwill they nothing to eat. otherwise finishes, current project the as soon as project construction another be will there that hopes She time.week’s a in them for pays she and credit, on store neighborhood the from noodles packed and rice buying to resorts Mayette eat, to something have they So needs. husband can only provide his less than a deducts hundred pesos daily also for the He family’s pesos. packedlunch.Thus,no has he as Mayette’slunchwage, fromdaily this hundred a than more costs back) (and earns PhP250.00 a day. His transportation fare from Payatas to Makati Her husband now works on a small construction project in Makati and window. neighbor’s their outside TV watching or by, neighbors, pass the with people talking watching from entertainment their get They radio. transistor a nor set TV a own to afford cannot Mayette’shousehold haveand will they to buy bundle for charcoal cooking. or afuelwood available, wood more no be will there soon that knows Mayette And plants. other and shrubs, trees, medium-sized the remove to cleared being also is cemetery the as area the from wood get to allowed were kakawate ( ) or guava trees. They They trees. guava or ) sepium Gliricidia 2 in vi o te government’s the of or avail province the to return not did they why asked “When to eat,andourstomachswere empty.” difficult in the province. I experienced having really nothing matter what happens, we have something to eat. Itis more because no dumps, garbage the scavenging are we if even Payatas prefer “I that replied Mayette program, province) Innocent ofthedangers,childrenfindfuningarbage balik-probinsiya (back-to-the-

201 Forest Faces What forestland could not provide 202 Forest Faces What forestland could not provide Rainwater tankseaselifeandadd color! July 2000. Their house farwas from the dumpsite, and she can only share bothered that by notfeel theShe does landslide tragedy shewitnessed in were empty.”) the province. I experienced having really nothing to eat, and our stomachs matterno what happens, we have something toeat. It moreis in difficult because dumps, garbage the scavenging are we if Payataseven prefer (“I Naranasan ko doon na wala talagang makain, walang laman ang sikmura.” dahil kahit papaano may makakain kami. Mas mahirap doon sa probinsiya. that replied the of avail or province government’s the to return not did they why asked When needs. food daily their from apart expenses other havecannot she lives, their in time this of yearstwo and a baby that she breastfeeds and is less than a year Atold. the PhP10.00 daily allowance. Mayette’s other children include a toddler because she cannot afford topay the required PhP50.00 monthly fee and She had to stop her four-year old child from going to kindergarten school to the health problems to experience used they in their previous house. they stayed before. She feels that the children are not as easily susceptible where with compared strong, that not is dumpsite the from stench the Mayette keeps on praying that her children will not get sick. At their house, becausescavenging just health condition. his aggravates work to construction return will he cough, persistent and flu have at 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening. As soon as he recovers from his slight dinner.for Mayettedinner for thatfood preparesusually they cooks and food buy to sufficientwith earnings pm 7:00 Hereturnsto around6:00 materials. junk other and containers plastic sellable of selection wider a provides This dump. main the at garbage the dump they before trucks the trucks near the gate the near trucks the for waiting dumpsite, enough the to returns have he lunch, After can lunch. for earnings he until dumpsite the in work the resumes then he After breakfast, for children.the havingfor coffee buyporridge to home “Mas gustuhin ko na sa Payatas kahit mangaykay sa basura sa mangaykay Payataskahit sa na ko gustuhin “Mas (back-to-the-province) program, Mayettebalik-probinsiya program, (back-to-the-province) 3 . This is strategic as he can have access to the to access have can he as strategic is This . the junk shop owners for the best price. Market rules govern so an association or association an so govern rules Market price. best the for owners shop junk the the of part substantial a form Children work.workforce. association organized an are negotiates scavengers who in The then with the in turns take family the of slept. they as Around 800people still unrecovered remain toalive this day. buried literally were scavengers 200 around rain, of days 15 and international prominence with the huge garbage slide in July 2000 when, after national gained garbage. city’s Payatas the from, earning and off, living people of was Smokey Mountain in Manila that gained notoriety for the inhuman conditions is who Payatas Jaymalin is divided into areas, all with their area managers. Robert The Payatas’ forerunner (ret.) Colonel by responsible managed for transforming the dumpsite and into a well-managed “recycling industry.” city the in collected 2 1 hope and have they little the for undemandingly for upon? to more. build Isbasis this notagood grateful are they easily too maybe complain; not do poor the of day,manythe of end the At to rural urban and areinstatement – ofthe urban squatterpoverty syndrome. of driver biggest the is livelihood of lack The improve if granted greater definitely security of home, health, andwould education. and start a for bad not ache: stomach bad a for only if medicine and wood, fuel some summer, rain, the in shelter the in cool children, the for fun food, Fruitand expansion. urban trees form a green mantle that will eventually be taken out for more These introduced. have they trees of species 40 not if 30, identify are major tree planters. Walking aroundsquatters such thatareas, it is not evidenthard to very also is it Payatas, to widening road of stretch a along communities of clearance the photographing just in But problem. the as seen and unwelcome been long have and upland like squatters, Urban for her children. alive be still will she and survive will they that is thing important the Mayette, For Payatas. in live to continue family her and she as health and safety their for anxieties or fears have not does She God). to everything leave (to lahat” ang lang na ipasa-Diyos“Na ones, loved their lost sentimentwho hersympathythose with and The whole family is usually involved in the scavenging and the differentmembers waste solid the for terminal main the is City Quezon in Dumpsite The Payatas hv a a reputation bad a have kaingineros, of five may earn day.PhP1,000 ina garbagesell can recyclable scavenger for around PhP150 dailytofamily300 a and group of scavengers can switch to another junk shop if the prices are better. An active dumps. guards carefully Security supervise the scavenging. it until waits and truck certain a to assigned is scavengers of group certain a and Payatas,twotothree eachwaste.carrying tons of The dumping strictly is organized at arrive day per trucks 1,000 Around where. from and time what at arrived has 3 When thedumpcheckedWhenthetrucks documentsarrive, are evaluate to what truck Source: http://images.pennnet.com/articles/seg/archive//landfill_stability_01_255.jpg

203 Forest Faces What forestland could not provide RODRIGO SUGALAN Farmer Born 1957, Died 5 April 2005, 48 years old Buried 14 April in Casandig II, Paranas, Samar

he fi rst and last time we met Rodrigo “Ka Digo” Sugalan was last 4 April 2005. TKa Digo was the Vice-Chair and member of the Board of Directors of the Casandig Farmers Multi Purpose Cooperative (CAFAMPCO), a 155-member people’s organization (PO) in Barangay Casandig in Paranas, Samar in the Eastern Visayas region. CAFAMPCO is noted as perhaps the only cooperative in Region VIII with the most number of government agencies and non-government organizations extending appropriate attention on a monthly basis.

CAFAMPCO is also one of the eight PO members of the Ulot Watershed Model Forest Partnership Federation. In February 2000, the Ulot Watershed joined the International Model Forest Network and was identifi ed as the Philippine Model for Sustainable Forest Management with support from the Japanese government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Th e model forest approach builds on the national Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) strategy and on existing community forestry and people-oriented forestry projects in the watershed. It is also part of the project site of the Samar Island Biodiversity Project supported by the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility.

In an exchange visit organized and facilitated by the Asia Forest Network, a visiting group of Cambodian NGO workers wanted to learn about how POs are working with forest management in the Samar Island Natural Park. Th ey spoke with Ka Digo and his colleagues and went around the Ulot watershed area.

Th e next day, at around 7:00 am, three armed men shot Ka Digo at close range while he was having coff ee and waiting for his wife at the market place in Barangay Tutubigan. Ka Digo was hit fi ve times. His killers remain unknown and Ka Digo’s murder remains

The high cost of human security and sustainable resources unsolved. etr H ws mn te he nmne slce t car the chair to selected nominees three the among was cooperatives He sector. the represented he Reform and Land Provincial Committee Samar Coordinating the of member a was Digo Ka agriculturalhe showed off in fairs. trade thatwatermelons sweet harvest to used he and farming vegetable three of maximum ideal hectares for Oneeach ARB. of these farms is to devoted off-season the than less even was area combined whose farms small-sized two tilled ARB Digo OutstandingKa Most Visayas. Eastern the of for nominated also was Digo Ka 2004. in Samar in Reform Agrarian of Department the of (ARB) became one of only two outstanding Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and packages accompanyingtechnology the and ProgramReform He also benefited from government’sthe Comprehensive Agrarian home. his farm in Barangay Casandig Paranas, II, Samar, and made this place and upon graduation, he moved out of Eastern Samar and started a Ka Digo always wanted to farm and discover new ways and methods course.agricultural atthe University Easternof and eventually an finished enrolledHe education. college a obtain to opportunity the found he where government, provincial Samar Eastern the at employed the previous Eastern Samar Governor, Lutgardo Barbo. He became through Ramos, Fidel President to surrendered and government 1992, he availed himself of the In society. and government in reformsinstitute to ways other for But as he shared in previous media interviews, Ka Digo was looking and thenVisayas, in Western Visayas. NPA’sthe became and ranks the Commander Easternin Regional through rose Digo Ka government.Philippine the with war wage group of the Communist Party of the Philippines that continues to People’sarmedNew (NPA),Army thethe joined he school, high Ka Digo was born in Oras, Eastern Samar, and aftergraduating from Balik-Baril amnesty program of the found andapplied. be to still is murder Digo’s Ka farming for justice but legacy, Digo’s Ka applying now are Casandig in entrepreneur. The other small farmer-entrepreneurs He was a “veterinarian” and a farmer’s tutor, a farmer- knowledge and experiences with the other farmers. Ka Digo served his community well and imparted his

205 Forest Faces The high cost of human security and sustainable resources 206 Forest Faces The high cost of human security and sustainable resources when he surrendered, Conching said that they never experienced never they that said Conching surrendered, he when 1992 Since revolution). the by inflicted (punishment rebolusyon a like But according to the Conching, killers did not act, behave, and talk the kagiosan before heleft. in peers and seniors his of blessing and approval the sought first he that said himself Digo Ka ARB. an as record track good a withcommunityleader recognized and respected highly a Hewas one. was never Digo Ka that replied Conching movement). the a was he that her told assailant The whatasked husband’sarmherand killed. was he which for was sin casually departing men who shot her husband, she held him by the Conching, or Conseca, the of one with up caught she murder, that when his after said she wife his interviewed media the When ProjectBiodiversity and DENR’s programs in the area. Samar the in active also was he CAFAMPCO, With committee. (comrade) and Ka Digo’s killing was not a not Digo’swas Ka killing and (comrade) kasama (traitorto kagiosan traydorha sirot han sirot f BM n CR ws aty o ep epe ih landless with people help to livelihoods. partly was CARP and CBFM of design The society management. forest of of reform margins the the to contribute at and again role productive a given be and governmentsettle with could their1980s andfamilies thein 1970 distant a of rejection in forests the to withdrew who people that was hopes original the of one reform, agrarian and management forest community of level the On 2007. in UnionEuropean the former and leaders labor extra- NPAthat generatedmuch attention farmers,from the United unresolved of Nations and activists, of problem larger much killings the judicial of part is This and found applied. be to still is murder Digo’s Ka for justice but legacy, farming Digo’s Ka applying now are Casandig in entrepreneurs and a farmer’s tutor, a farmer-entrepreneur. The other farmers.small farmer- other the with experiences and knowledge his imparted and well community his served Digo Ka the aroundwhole island of Samar than before. did they freely more moved even they and comrade-in-arms former his of any by advised or warned molested, accosted, being He was a “veterinarian” a was ­He DALLAY ANNAWI NGO Employee

allay is worried. Every time she goes back to her hometown in Besao, Mountain DProvince, she sees more and more forest being cleared and converted for agriculture. In Dallay’s area this conversion is for vegetable growing, a multi-million peso industry that historically supplies 75% of the country’s vegetables, now greatly aff ected by the liberalized entry of imported vegetables.

Vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, cabbages and other high value temperate-climate crops are grown in sloping gardens, and not terraced like the famous rice fi elds found in this mountainous region. Th e newly-opened gardens are located in not yet steep areas. Th e conversion is not extensive like the mountain sides of Java in Indonesia, but it is increasing and there is a progression up the mountainside.

Dallay acknowledges that traditionally “land is cleared to grow sweet potato and other products for subsistence and food security. Th en, these lands are allowed rest aft er some time. But the conversion that’s ongoing is making way for permanent crop lands and houses.”

She is particularly worried about Mount Polis, a thickly forested area shared by and , and there is an application for its classifi cation as a watershed but where vegetable gardens are starting to appear.

Dallay is worried that Mount Polis will turn out to be like Mount Data National Park, where deforestation and commercial farming expansion has turned the protected area into a “potato park,” a sad joke amongst the local communities. Despite government proclamations and protection projects initiated since the early 1970s, the deforestation and farm expansion continued. Already, the soils in Mount

Data are getting more acidic and less productive. Mountain forests and vegetable gardens: Why worry? 208 Forest Faces Mountain forests and vegetable gardens: Why worry? unilaterally wield the power to convert forest lands. change, land-use prohibit policies government that those where even authority,concern with the confirms This cover. forest into inroads increased sustainingtherebydispute, political of areas in exploited situationsare these and housing will continue to overtake the supply.remaining forest. Dallay shares that water as such implementation,infrastructure policy of prominence greater services is Unlessthere ecological securing in that not seems but conversion, it land so of advantage the to And involved money is management. there when wins infrastructure resource of part for as up project opened government be to a road a allowed area, the in gardens vegetable owns who staff, government local the of one that learned she recently,Just to water shortages.” due conflicts increasing are there and forests,interior more the to gardeners many tributaries of the Chico River and Pantabangan Dam, there is access by headwatermajorfor a provincesthattownsis mountain,theshareandthe it Polis is near an all-season accessible road, there in is a conversionboundary dispute amongst of area “the situation: Data Mount the with parallels several drawing already is She to faces. Polis initiativesMount that governmentthreat potential the local address together bringing of idea the exploring is management, resource natural in communities and governments local with working group researchenvironmental an with work her of part as Dallay, counterparts in Mountain Province have notdone so. supporting the “disestablishment” of Mount Data as a national park, but their agriculture over forests drove the provincial board to pass a resolution for drive the Meanwhile, strong farms. their despiteexpand to communitiesfrom pressure Rivers, Chico and Agno, , headwaters the uppermost of the tributaries major of for part as identified area small a fencing tried the within productivity also DENR agricultural The sizes. farm their expand to not but areas, farming identified maximize to where allowed Program were Management farmers Kaingin the expansion to perhaps happened are what They wondering farming located. are farms vegetable the commercial of most where Benguet that nearer especially Park,National acknowledge Data Mount of areas continuesunabatedin officials DENR be be true, that there are lots of opportunities, if people are willing to do manual, “In Mindanao, I was able to visit Agusan del Sur. The storiesI’ve heard seem to is notautomatic. the Seemingly, resources. are there resources are not enough to support but the population or access to the resources resources, limited are there that grant environment. I the match to seem not do houses The limited. though opportunities, thereeconomic areand degraded super“the not forestsareas Dallay reflects that thispoverty in Samar does not seem to match the landscape, in Eastern Samar.” not appear to be that security in the communities I visited in the poorer areas their home. There is strength in thecommunity in the Cordillera.Theredoes landof that piece a others can lend them for timea and where can they build to access family the allow will community larger thehave none, If they land. of piece small a have will family another,ora way one in but Cordillera, the in poverty is There me. indicatorsfor poverty are it, of lack the or livelihood land one can call one’s own. This lack of security in housing and land,plus the the Cordillera. Poverty for me includes a very insecure living area and without in poverty much that seen never have Samar.“I Eastern Borongan, in Oras, Dolores, riversin the along houses the of strongestwerememoriesthoseher Dallay’s work has brought her to areas outside of the and some Cordillera, of in used awaybe that sustains the future. cannotsomehow Culturalpresenthistory decisions. on bear to history their culture, the present communities and personalities cannot bring the wealth of historical rich a have ) and (Besao areas these if even that admits She lookingboth to seem be at short-term benefits at the moment,” notes. Dallay as picture, bigger the see can communities and LGUswhether say cannot I tourists. and But vegetables between balance a be to needs There forests.the “Where I come from, it is difficult to imagine Besao, and alsoSagada, without admits that forest protection cannot effective be without LGU.the Director Executive Regional the involvementand (LGU) unit government There is a push by theDENR’s officeregional in the Cordillera for more local

209 Forest Faces Mountain forests and vegetable gardens: Why worry? 210 Forest Faces Mountain forests and vegetable gardens: Why worry? policies that do not fit the process, but hope to see this develop develop more appropriately in time.” this see to hope but process, the fit not do that policies government also are officials aware that government there local useare planning planning Provincial area. their land for appropriate not are comprehensive guidelines the that recognize planning officials government local the where Besao in recognized only are not is This assistance. for LGUs NGOs withpartner can aware thatthey because management, resource in capacity of lack of over LGUs and have a say in their development. It is not a problem havecontrol thatpeople in lucky“Cordillera the considers Dallay event.”behind meof reminded left and boulders rocks the tragic Baños, Laguna and I can’t imagine how it happened. Only the large me of the disaster that occurred. It was the same on Makiling in Los was only the memories of people and the loss of lives that reminded happen like that and after some days, the river looks friendlyagain? grasping and everything It I was caught by anxiety. How an event can haddifficulty I me. accompanied who thebypeople from, assisted where came flow debris the where found, path the tracing found, were were children bodies the where locations the to went We stories. their heard I disaster,and the of site the to people of lot a with went Samar.Northern in I flow debris the with this relate “I in the house we were sohappy about.” house is also in the city. “My realization is that there is vulnerability City. This is the house theirparents built for them and her brother’s level, she is worried that a debris flow willhit their house in personal a on and work, analysis disaster involvedin also is Dallay to asserttheir engagement.” need have. will People what they of makeuse not do indolentand not donebeen yet. There arealso stories that people are in Agusan, Mindanao,in while has this established, was access theCordillera, Inconversion.forest for responsible were who Mindanao to went physical work. It’s been said that it was some Cordillera people who oue o ise i acsrl oan eieto i Mountain Province. in delineation domain ancestral in issues on focused paper graduate Her Sociology-Anthropology. Applied in degree andrecently her finished degree Science Master’s She Social anAB has Besao. in school high and elementary to went and children of born was Annawi Dallay atno willingness the moment to take action.” Thereawareness is concerns,issues. but the of political tacklelocal to want really not do they that concluded sisterMy response. any didn’tget but domain ancestral of issues up bring to once tried I Besao. in sunset the berries, the snails, the are interested they’re an joined She globe. the of Dallay is also trying to connect with other out hold will compromised,” or be says Dallay. they whether about deeply very think to need still Communities and upheld being are weakening. but there, still is elders of values recognition The recognized. and strong still is community of have that sense those the because strongword the use “I practices. especially culturalstrong communities, with partner LGUs that to means need also LGUs with partner to need and forests protect they cannot that admission office’s regional DENR The Yahoo group but “it seems all all seems “it but group YahooiBesao parents, the sixth out of seven of out sixth the parents, iBesao iBesaos in differentparts